MATARIKI at TE PUIA - HAUTAPU CEREMONY

MATARIKI at TE PUIA - HAUTAPU CEREMONY

Join us to celebrate the rising of the Matariki star cluster and the start of the Māori New Year.

By Te Puia

Date and time

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 4:30 AM - 7:00 AM NZST

Location

Te Pūia Hemo Road, Tihiotonga, Rotorua, New Zealand

Hemo Road Rotorua, Bay of Plenty 3040 New Zealand

Refund Policy

Contact the organiser to request a refund.
Eventbrite's fee is nonrefundable.

About this event

  • 2 hours 30 minutes

MATARIKI at TE PUIA - HAUTAPU CEREMONY

Join us to celebrate the rising of the Matariki star cluster and the start of the Māori New Year.

From 4:30am – 7.00am our Matariki Hautapu Ceremony, led by NZMACI Pou Tāhū Te Waata Cribb and Te Rāngai Kawa – Te Tokotoru a Manawakotokoto, will showcase a deep respect for ancestral practices that acknowledge the past, present, and future through three key parts of the dawn ceremony.

The first part, Te Tirohanga, looks to the stars for forecasts. Based on these observations, tohunga make predictions about the upcoming year.

The second part, Taki Mōteatea, remembers loved ones who have passed away since the last appearance of Matariki. By calling out the names of those who have passed in the presence of the star cluster, Māori believe when Matariki rises again, those spirits become stars in the sky.

The third part, Te Whāngai i ngā whetū, means ‘feeding the stars’. Kai (food) representing each of the four different stars associated with food is gathered and cooked in umu/hāngī, then the steam is released into the sky as an offering that replenishes the stars.

The act of gathering, sharing kai, singing waiata and telling stories fosters a sense of community and collective identity. It provides an opportunity for individuals to come together, reconnect with their environment, and find solace in the company of others.

In Māori history, after a formal Hautapu ceremony everyone would gather to feast, play games, plan and prep for the year ahead.

New for 2024, our Whānau Fun Day on Rotowhio marae atea from 9am to 3pm, can also be booked for $5 here: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/matariki-at-te-puia-whanau-fun-day-tickets-884644334017

Tickets

Frequently asked questions

What to bring

Please be prepared in case it is wet. Keep yourself warm and dry - this means bring: warm clothes (jacket, hat, gloves); umbrella; torch.

Photos and video

Photos and video will be taken during the event for potential use on our website and/or social media pages. If you do not wish to be filmed, please let one of our staff know. No photos, filming or recording during karakia. Whānau are free to take photos and make recordings the rest of the time.

Organised by

Te Puia

Discover one of New Zealand’s most magnificent geothermal wonderlands…

Featuring dramatic geysers, bubbling mud, and beautiful native bush explored by our personalised guided tours. Te Puia is home to the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute and offers a state-of-the-art Kiwi Conservation Centre, so you can get closer than ever before to our native Kiwi bird.

For generations, Te Puia has welcomed manuhiri (visitors) from all over the world to explore the magic hidden within Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley during both the day and evening.

Every year we host a Waitangi Day and a Matariki event - Nau mai, haere mai. We look forward to welcoming you.